MHSA Steering Committee 

The MHSA Steering Committee meets twice a year to make recommendations to the planning, funding and services development for MHSA.  During a recent meeting the following, the items were included for comment and approval:

• A request for one year, no cost extensions of two Innovation projects, the Health Ambassador Program for Youth and the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) for Adults
•  A plan to spend MHSA one-time available funding

To learn more about these initiatives, visit the MHSA webpage and/or attend the next Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission (MHSARC) meeting on May 1^st, 3:30pm at the County Health Campus, 225 37^th Ave. Room 100 in San Mateo.  The MHSARC will vote to open a 30-day public comment and will subsequently hold a public hearing and closing of the public comment period at the June 5^th meeting, same time and location.

New MHSA Innovation Funding Cycle

MHSA Innovation funds innovative projects to develop new best practices in behavioral health services and supports.  This year, a broad reach effort led to 37 ideas being submitted that addressed San Mateo County priority need areas including: engagement and integration of older adults, culturally relevant outreach and service delivery, integration of peer/family supports; integration of co-occurring practices; engagement services for transition-age youth, and broader housing options across the continuum of care.

A selection committee made up of MHSA Steering Committee members reviewed project ideas and selected the following five ideas to move forward and develop into a full proposal for State approval:

• A college student culturally responsive, leadership, community development, behavioral health promotion program for Pacific Islander college-aged youth.
• The co-location of prevention and early intervention services in low income housing complexes for low income young adults 18-25.
• An addiction medicine fellowships sponsored by a government agency community hospital for clients with co-occurring diagnosis.
• An early intervention economic stress screening to prevent homelessness for at risk older adults.
• A social enterprise as a cultural arts and wellness center for Filipino at-risk youth (16-24) in Daly City and north San Mateo County.

Learn how Community Input Shapes MHSA Spending. More info on San Mateo County Mental Health Services Act